What Makes a Family
What Makes a Family is a 2001 American television movie from Lifetime Television.[1] The film premiered on the network on January 22, 2001.[2]
Plot
Based on a true story, the movie involves a lesbian couple living in Florida who choose to have a child. Janine Nielsen (Brooke Shields) and her partner, Sandy Cataldi (Cherry Jones), elect to conceive a baby via artificial insemination with Sandy as the biological mother. After the birth of their daughter Heather, Sandy is diagnosed with systemic lupus when she collapses at the baby's christening. The couple handles the disease for several years until Sandy dies. Following her death, Sandy's parents (Anne Meara and Al Waxman) sue to gain custody of the child. Addressing moral, legal and ethical issues, Janine's lawyer (Whoopi Goldberg) wins the custody battle after a video tape surfaces in which Sandy expressed her love for both Janine and Heather and her wish for them to stay together.
Production
The movie was directed by Maggie Greenwald, with the screenplay written by Robert L. Freedman. The executive producers were Barbra Streisand, Whoopi Goldberg, Cis Corman, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron.[3]
Main cast
- Brooke Shields as Janine Nielssen
- Cherry Jones as Sandy Cataldi
- Anne Meara as Evelyn Cataldi
- Al Waxman as Frank Cataldi
- Whoopi Goldberg as Terry Harrison
References
- ↑ What Makes a Family - Trailer - Cast - Showtimes - New York Times
- ↑ The Advocate, January 30, 2001 issue Retrieved May 21, 2010
- ↑ Wertheimer, Ron. "TELEVISION REVIEW; In This Fight Over Custody, Parents Loved Each Other" The New York Times, January 22, 2001
External links
- What Makes a Family at Lifetime TV
- What Makes a Family at the Internet Movie Database
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